I was using Lloyd Walker's fluids, first 3 steps, then 4. (Ugh). Switched to using AIVS No. 15 and lab water. No discernible sonic difference, and 1/2 the time (two steps v. four). I suspect that any combination of good detergent/surfactant, followed by a pure water rinse will accomplish much the same thing; I am partial to the enzyme cleaners, like the No. 15 (which is apparently both an enzyme along with detergents), because I clean a lot of old records. Some of these benefit from a soak and mild agitation with the cleaner- whether it was cigarette (or other) smoke, combined with air borne grit or other foreign matter, it seems like some of these old records literally had stuff 'glued' to the grooves, and the difference between a superficial cleaning and a thorough cleaning is dramatic.
I think the key to the lab water rinse is to get the cleaning fluids off the record surface; not sure even a high quality vacuum, ala Monks, does that 100%. (I'm not a chemist but suspect there is some residue left that may create a sonic signature. That was certainly the case 30 years ago, when I used 1 step fluids with a VPI- the records would sometimes be noisier after cleaning). I think the water rinse is itself not just a solvent, but may displace whatever cleaning fluid was put on as a first step. (Scientists- chime in here- I'm speaking only from anecdotal experience).
I'm interested in the fact that the Monks fluid doesn't necessarily require a 'rinse.' I'm going to try a Monks machine next. While I like the ultrasonics for convenience and lack of 'static,' I've found that I am getting better results 'pre-cleaning' manually and using a vacuum machine before using the ultrasonic, at least on old records.
I think the key to the lab water rinse is to get the cleaning fluids off the record surface; not sure even a high quality vacuum, ala Monks, does that 100%. (I'm not a chemist but suspect there is some residue left that may create a sonic signature. That was certainly the case 30 years ago, when I used 1 step fluids with a VPI- the records would sometimes be noisier after cleaning). I think the water rinse is itself not just a solvent, but may displace whatever cleaning fluid was put on as a first step. (Scientists- chime in here- I'm speaking only from anecdotal experience).
I'm interested in the fact that the Monks fluid doesn't necessarily require a 'rinse.' I'm going to try a Monks machine next. While I like the ultrasonics for convenience and lack of 'static,' I've found that I am getting better results 'pre-cleaning' manually and using a vacuum machine before using the ultrasonic, at least on old records.